I used Jenni Bowlin 4x4 papers along with the black striped SU grosgrain {LOVE that stuff}. Isn't that the most adorable Hero Arts penguin? I scored on it at my local Ben Franklin Craft Store, it was 50% off...wooooo hoooooo.

Okay, my man is wayy tooooo good to me....check out what he picked up for me:

The newest, latest & greatest iPod Touch!

Sheesh, I feel like one of the 'cool kids'....both of my kidlets each have one of their own but I never did buy myself one....I have to admit that it is fun to have a techie man in your life :) He understands my whole obsession with blogging/blurfing, loves to share techie things but when it all comes down to it...he is a good man...super spectacular...he is one of those guys that always wants to help, always holds the door open for me, we crack each other up...I love him to pieces.

In the summer I took advantage of the Sassafras Warehouse sale and bought the smallest package they were selling...I'm sooo glad that I did. All the paper is from my pack. I used CPS135 as my sketch but based everything around the very fun Sassafras sticker in the middle of the card. I've been having fun with my black glittery thickers...The Rainbow panel along with the thin black outlining panel is on pop dots.

I can't get over how quickly the days are passing by, especially the weekends...this week we will be going into October....October peeps...I can't believe it!!!!

Today I have my take on Card Patterns sketch 34.What a fabbie sketch...I love scallops! All my patterned paper is October Afternoon...the house is ala The Cutting Cafe, the chippie heart is SU along with the felt ribbon. I printed out the sentiment in word...you'd think I'd have that one in a stamp. The big ivory button is foof-a-la and the petite green one is PTI. I used my Lady Bug Memento dew drop to ink up the heart...'frosted' it with clear effects and dumped a ton of dazzling diamonds glitter on it. I managed the scallops with my Fiskars shape template....old school ladies {& gents}.

Well, I keep thinking that I'm going to take some days off on the blog but it hasn't happened yet, has it?! I have tons of mojo but my house is a mess..I have tons of projects to tackle for an upcoming Gift show...I need to really start my christmas cards..I need to organize, organize, organize...the list is endless...kwim? So starting next week... I'm going to {force myself to} take off some non-design team days off. Seriously, I love blogging but need to find that happy balance...

BTW, I had a wonderful visit with Susan over the weekend. Isn't it funny how you meet people through this whole blogging/internet dealio and can meet up for the 2nd time and chat about tons of different things? She was patiently waiting for me as I pulled up from the soccer game at almost 8 pm on Saturday night. We chatted for a couple hours...I gave her a tour of my place...along with my very disorganized crafty space. The poor thing slept in my daughter's chaotic room :) Thanks for a fabbie time Susan...and my goodie bag...oy that woman knows me...she gave me a bunch of fun gifties including ribbon and a Hero Arts crown stamp...

Sunday, September 27, 2009

Such a fun sketch by Pam, I decided to go 5x7 {thanks Beth!!}. The patterned papers are by Jenni Bowlin and Stampin' Up. The ribbon is from Carolina {I've been hoarding it!}. I made the flower with the SU Papers and it is held together with a bling brad. I used a SU 'For You' rub on on the Maya Road journaling card.

I tell you, today is going to be a short & sweet post...as I'm typing this up on Saturday evening I'm super exhausted. Both of the soccer games were fabulous...The girls didn't win but they did a good job...the boys won, by a ton..and yes, my boy scored a goal...oh yeah!!!! I just finished chatting up a storm with Susan and I need to go to bed...super tired...no nap today :(

Saturday, September 26, 2009

Okay, you gotta admit that the Hero Arts Christmas Japanese Dolls are super cute...they make me smile :)

I teamed up Laura's sketch 35 with the darling Hero Arts image. The green patterned papers are older American Crafts and the pink text is vintage KI memories. The sentiment is ala A Muse. The preppy ribbon is from the M's $ bin years ago :)

I paper pieced the Japanese Doll with the American Crafts paper and some scraps from my Carolyn Gavin pad.

I love to use non-traditional colors for holiday cards....

Anything big planned for the weekend? I have a couple soccer games...one of them being in the early evening in the city that has a Fair going on...oy...that's going to be fun getting to. On a crafty side note, I'll have a house guest for the evening...I'm really looking forward to having her over...I gotta madly clean up my crafty area {oh yeah, and the rest of the house but really it is the crafty area that is much more important!}.

Friday, September 25, 2009

I picked the very fun set by Stephanie Fizer called I {heart} books. I've been on such a paper piecing kick lately and decided to keep it going :) I teamed the images with the fabbie paper by Carolyn Gavin and October Afternoon.

Please check the Get Sketchy site for the MFT prize...you knew there was going to be a prize, right??!!! PLUS the fabbie BREE is giving away additional prizes for those of you that join in on the fun...you don't want to miss out on these goodies!!!

TGIF

...seriously....

P.S.

I just cracked open my October 2009 Cards Magazine...I tell you ladies, I was gasping at each page...there are sooo many of you fabbie girlies in there...a humungous woot woot to you all!!!!

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

I'm back with another Holiday project...this time it isn't a card but a nugget tin {thanks Laurel!}.

I used CPS134 for the slideable belly band. The nuggets are covered with Basic Grey Eskimo Kisses, the belly band is the very retired SU Cranberry Crisp and the sweet green polka dot paper is Making Memories. I topped everything off with SU felt snowflakes and Pure Poppy PTI Vintage buttons.

This will make a great "slam dunk" giftie....come on, who doesn't love chocolate?

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

One thing I'm trying to do is design a card 'all by myself', well kind of....

In an effort to challenge myself, I'm trying to do one post a week without the help of a challenge or sketch. I know...can you believe it? LOL...I am however going to have the help from bloggie land. I absolutely soak up TONS of inspiration from blogs and will use that very inspiration to help me design cards.

Okay, so today's card has been inspired by the lovely work of Kelly Booth. I adore her sense of style {and her love of owls!}. Hopefully I have given her the justice that she oh-so-deserves...that woman is fantabulous!

This is a special card...special because it is going to a new 'deer' friend....

This is my first card that I made using MY NEW CUTTLEBUG! wooo hooo...that puppy is small and snappy. Can you tell that I used the Swiss Dot folder on the 2 layers of 'grass'? I ran my scallop circle through the ole CB too. All the patterned paper is ala Cosmo Cricket Earth Love Mini Deck {thanks Tami!}. I used my sweet Hero Arts deer, the porcupine is from My Cute Stamps and the sentiment is ala A Muse.

Paulina, I hope the card makes you **smile**

Thanks soooo much for stoppin' by, I do appreciate your fabbie comments :)

Don't you LOVE that?!!! This card is compliments of Card Patterns #33 and The Cutting Cafe! The apron has been paper pieced with Basic Grey Eskimo Kisses, the polka dot base is Making Memories. That gorgeous ribbon & felt snowflake is Stampin' Up!

What do you notice about this card? hmmmm....yes, I have the polka dots panels going the wrong way...grrrr...didn't notice that until I uploaded the pic!

Sunday, September 20, 2009

I had soooo much fun with today's sketch!!! There is something about the new Hero Arts Christmas Japanese dolls that seriously makes me smile. I paper pieced the doll with Making Memories Just Chillin'. Her pom pom has been glittered up with Dazzling Diamonds. I loaded up the card with PTI Spring Moss & Sweet Blush Vintage buttons.

The japanese print paper is actually from a vintage book...I picked it up at a rummage sale...super fun. I used my A Muse "warm wishes" and whipped out a sharpie to do the dots and to tie it to the ZVA flourish.

I'm trying to add to my holiday card stash...hmmm....this would be 1 of 1...LOL.

I had a gift certificate burning a hole in my pocket for the local Ben Franklin Craft Store. Well, they had a whole display of this magnficent Graphic 45 stuff....Domestic Goddess. Isn't she fabulous...complete with a crown!

I stitched the 2 panels together....1/4 of the way down my stitching went wonky...grrrrrr....so being the way that I am...I took the time to remove the stitching and lined it up and went for it again. I couldn't bear to 'toss out' the panels...especially since I only bought 1 sheet of each pattern. So although this card looks like it should be a slam dunk, it ended up being quite labor intensive.

Yes, I'm using more of the ZVA crystals...love them...tons....I yet again altered the shape {snipped here and there} to make so that it would fit...and what's that I see...yuppers...a PTI Pure Poppy button!! wooo hoooo!!! I distressed all the edges, including the Domestic Goddess tag...

She is celebrating her 52nd sketch with a $52 spending spree!!! Check out the deets...she needs 52 players...come on ladies {and dudes}....I'm telling you, it's soooo worth all the fun!!!! Thanks to Tami for giving me the heads up on this one :)

Okay enough with the chit chatting...here's the fun sketch:

Here's my entry #2 for the Moxie Fab World Around the House Challenge:

All the patterned paper is ala Teresa Collins {yes, picked up a couple sheets with that fabbie gift cert!}. Surprise, surprise...I'm using Thickers...LOL. How do you like my 'flatware'? I've had those for, well, years...I happened to go to a Packaging Specialties 'garage sale' and picked them up there.

Thanks to my very magnificent friend 'm' for the gift cert...I also bought one of these and one of these.Soooooo much stinkin' FUN!!!!

Well, that's it for today...come on back tomorrow for my 365 Cards Super Sketchy Sunday card!!!!

Who doesn't want a stylish storage solution? I don't know about you but I'm always up for a crafty tote!!!

**Use the code SKETCHY for a 15% off discount**

Okay, you just gotta try the sketch without patterned paper...wow....now that IS a challenge! I used die cuts and I'm saying that it is okay and that I'm not being a rebel on the bonus challenge. It's funny...I have to tell you a secret...

I LOVE my patterned paper...oy.

You know what I love about this card??? It is my FIRST Christmas card...and actually it isn't going to stay a 'card'. I decided to actually make it the cover for a mini album which I'll show you in a couple months :)

Okay, can't wait to see what you got....

Onto other stuff...remember the fabbie Cuttlebug that I won from Paulina of Pretty Pink Posh? Well, guess what????!!!! I got to meet Paulina last night at the local Starbucks!!!!! Woooo Hooooo...she is a super sweetie pie!!

Here's a pic of us...Here's my jackpot!!!

Seriously, this would be icing on the cupcake...check out the fabbie tag I got too!!!!!

cute, cute, cute!!!!

Thanks again Paulina...I'm a lucky duck and you betcha that the first card I make with my Cuttlebug is going to YOU!!!!I tell you this was perfect timing as it made all the running around that I had to do after meeting Paulina not as chaotic {soccer & school open house}.

Well, I knew I wanted to use this Art Impression shoe image. Alas, this card didn't turn out how I originally pictured it...you know how that goes but seriously, I figure that you can't go wrong with Making Memories glittery paper.

Thanks to Ivy for the Paper Source black Ric Rac cards...I folded one in half and nestled it onto the black MM polka dot paper. I then added the pink MM polka dot paper on top of the ric rac card. BTW, the base card & Art Impression shoe is SU Basic Gray...love that color.

Here's the dealio...the interior of the ric rac card has a special message...ready for it....

Oy Vey, I had a hard time taking a pic of it but I used the MM tiny alpha stickers to spell out:

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Yup, you're at the right place...this is my blog. It probably threw you off since I actually have a pattern in my background of this Fabriano card....AND it ISN'T based off of a card sketch!!! I'm testing out propping background paper behind my fabriano cards. I can never get a good photo of them with my normal white background.

This already went postal to my friend who celebrates her birthday today!!

{Happy B Day J!!}

The Early Bird Mini Deck....This is another item out of my stash from Tami...pure perfection for cards...woooo hoooooo for Mini Decks!!!!! BTW, make sure you read Tami's post about a call for cards to be sent to her sister...as avid card makers I know you all gotta have at least 1 spare card to send to a gal that would appreciate it. Sheesh, Tami has even put together some blog candy as a thank you....Memory Box goodies ladies!!!

I did some major paper piecing on this card....finally inked up my Lockhart apron image {thanks to Sherry for the inspiration!!}. I 'was' going to brag that Lockhart's are out of Washington but it seems they went and moved to California :)

The sentiment is A Muse {big surprise...they rock on sentiments!}.

Thanks for some humorous comments on yesterday's post about the new Boyfriend....

Monday, September 14, 2009

I picked sketch #2 to work with...fun, fun, fun....The text paper is Jenni Bowlin, the journaling card is Maya Road & the polka dot paper is Jillibean. I found some ZVA Crystals at Scrapgal {that's where I picked up the sweet Maya Road journaling cards too!}. I actually snipped a large flourish in order to fit in it on my card :)

Yahooooo for the spectacular Sherry {thanks again sista!!!} that came to my Pom Pom rescue...check it out...I'm back in business ladies. I've been hoarding them for a smidge but knew I wanted to use them on this particular card...

Sunday, September 13, 2009

Today's sketch seemed to throw me for some reason...it really doesn't look like a difficult one but I think it is the oval...the ovals are tough for me for one reason or another.

This is actually the 2nd card I made {yes, I passed along my 1st card to Pam only to email her this one around 9 pm last night}. I mixed Jillibean with Bella Blvd. The Jillibean's are the kraft and yellow with stars and the Bella Blvd is the one with the birthday candles.

Check out all that stitching....why no, I didn't use my janome pedal for the oval...I cranked that wheel manually....yes, manually...I didn't want to ruin that yellow panel so decided to do it the slow way...oy...BUT I love the way it turned out...

The patterned base is kraft with black stars...in the past when I've used it some people have commented on it being purple...aren't those vinyl thickers a glorious tiffany blue...love, love, love them.I popped 2 kaiser pearls in 2 of the corners...

Can't wait to see what you come up with based on Pam's fabbie sketch!!!

Why does the weekend ALWAYS seem to fly by? I spent the entire morning on 2 different soccer fields yesterday...the last 2 games the sun was totally beating down, I was soooo warm, I can't begin to imagine those poor boys racing around after the soccer ball!

Talking about The Cutting Cafe...make sure you pop over there today...Regina is having a special 'cupcake' sale...come on, who doesn't love cupcakes??!!!!

Isn't the Martha Loop Edge punch fun? Pretty impressive how it 'folds up' for storage...those peeps at Martha are smart cookies. The 'snail mail' is ala Making Memories tiny alpha stickers and I used a Stampin' Up punch. No surprise that I stitched around the red polka dot panel...it seems these days that a card doesn't seem 'finished' to me unless it has some sort of stitching on it.

Well, today is filled with 4 soccer games...oy. We're also hoping to get some more school clothes shopping in too...